By Leela Fireside
Senior Assistant City Attorney, Rockville
County or municipal clients may ask their attorneys, “Can we give money to this good cause?” or “Can we pay this private business for an economic development opportunity?” As a municipal lawyer, I have found it helpful to have the conversation within a legal framework.
In Texas, where I practiced municipal law for about 15 years, the Texas Constitution, cases, and Attorney General opinions formed the outline of the framework. In Maryland, where I am now practicing, the State law framework is less defined.
Continue reading “Restrictions on Local Purchasing Powers: The Public Purpose Requirement for Local Funds”